Irish woman fears being ‘stuck in Dubai’ despite legal victory to reunite with child

Sligo woman says she cannot get travel documents for her British-born 10-year-old daughter to return to Ireland

The 50-year-old Sligo woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is currently living in a hotel with her 10-year-old daughter less than 1km from where the missiles are firing amid the ongoing war in Iran. File picture

An Irish mother who won a legal case in the United Arab Emirates for the return of her child — after the child was taken to Dubai by her father without her consent — is pleading with the Government to help bring them home safely.

The 50-year-old Sligo woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is currently living in a hotel with her 10-year-old daughter less than 1km from where the missiles are firing amid the ongoing war in Iran.

She is unable to return home because her daughter has a British passport. She claims her travel documents have been destroyed by the child’s father, leaving them stranded in Dubai.

The mother of two in January applied for a replacement for her child’s passport though the Department of Foreign Affairs, but is still waiting for an update on her emergency travel documents. She said the Government "is not helping me".

Speaking to the Irish Examiner this week, she said she was “terrified” she would be “stuck in Dubai” and unable to get home.

“I won custody in January, but I am still waiting. The Department of Foreign Affairs did get me an emergency flight when Dubai reopened, however, I have no travel documents for my daughter and because she is British-born, they can’t help me, they say," she said.

I am not leaving here without my child and I am very distressed.

“I tried to apply for an Irish passport, but I was told I will have to do it in Ireland.

“I am so stressed, I can’t explain what I am going through, we are here waiting with missiles going off in the area, my daughter is waking up shaking and frightening.

“She is 10 and a good girl, she keeps saying to me: 'I don’t want to die.'"

The woman said she had used up her savings as her visa had expired and for every day she stays in Dubai, she is being fined.  She has not revealed her identity because of strict laws in Dubai.

“It’s a €50 per day fine and I have used up all of my savings” she said. 

“I am now dependent on my siblings who are trying to help me, but I am going from house to house." 

The organisation Detained in Dubai has warned visitors to the UAE that “posting, reposting, or commenting online about the ongoing regional conflict could expose them to prosecution under the country’s cybercrime laws, with fines reaching up to €66,000 or more and the risk of imprisonment".

It said: “The legislation is broad and enforcement can be swift, particularly during periods of heightened security. Foreign nationals should exercise extreme caution, as even sharing footage or commentary may result in detention, heavy fines, or travel bans.” 

The child was taken by her father to UAE on holiday in 2024 and he subsequently refused to return.

She won a circuit court case here last year as well as in Dubai to have the child returned to her custody, however, she now remains trapped there.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said: “The department is aware of the case and has provided advice. The department does not comment on the details of individual cases.”